Mikhail Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila

On the historical stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, Mikhail Glinka's opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" is revived in it's reopening show, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski and directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov. This particular opera has a long history with the Bolshoi Theatre. The legendary venue has been home to nine different productions of the work, totaling more than 700 individual performances. This recording beautifully shows the remarkable staging of the Bolshoi Theatre, including it's two massive screens which are both fully exploited. Tcherniakov brings the opera into the twentieth century by bringing attention to the "modernity of the subject" and "the deep feelings of the characters." This particular production has received critical acclaim for it's musical quality and it's staging. Jurowski, the Orchestra, and soloists Albina Shagimuratova, Mikhail Petrenko, and all the rest deliver a performance which is a firework display of passion and skill.